Method and Apparatus for Laser Scored Packaging

ABSTRACT

A package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process includes a web material with edge portions sealed to create a vertical sleeve. The package also includes a first sealed end and a second sealed end at either end of the vertical sleeve to create a sealed package. The package includes a laser scribed ablation pattern extending across the web material with ablated portions having an about one to about three millimeter length separated by non-ablated portions of about 0.25 and about 0.75 millimeter length. The package has increased tensile strength to avoid breaking during the vertical-form-fill-and-seal process and provides a high likelihood that an outer edge and vertical seal of the package include ablated portions to provide an easy-to-start tear area to open the package. Also, the short spaces between ablated portions increase the likelihood of tear propagation along the ablation pattern, all the way across the package.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending and co-ownedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/742,754, entitled Ingredient Packageand Method and filed May 1, 2007, which is incorporated by reference inits entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to packaging and more particularly toeasy-open foodstuff packaging.

BACKGROUND

Various packaging methods and types are known in the art. Considerationsfor commercial packaging include protection of the package's contentsand usability of the package by a consumer or user of the package'scontents. In the case of packaged food items, for example, the itemsgenerally are sealed into a package to optimize shelf life. When aconsumer purchases the product, the consumer must then open the packageto access the items stored therein. Accessing the items through a sealedpackage, however, can require sometimes excessive effort to open thepackage.

In certain packages, such as stick-pack packages, it is alsoadvantageous to easily, completely remove an end of the package to allowthe contents to be fully poured out. For example, where the contents ofa package are intended to be poured into a solution for mixing, such asin a flavored drink product, the package should be sealed to protect thecontents from the outside moisture but also be easily opened by aconsumer. Such packages are typically made in avertical-form-fill-and-seal process wherein a web of material is foldedover and sealed. This sealed material is cut and sealed on one end andthen filled with the package contents. The second end is then also cutand sealed, thereby sealing the contents of the package therein. To openthe package, a user must either pull apart the seal or otherwise cut ortear the package.

Various features have been added to such packages to assist the consumerin opening the package. By one approach, the side of the package is cutto provide the consumer with a starting point in tearing open thepackage. This approach, however, requires that the package be sealedaround the cut portion which takes additional manufacturing resourcesand efforts. By another known approach, the side edge of the package isflawed by a physical micro-abrasion process that weakens the side of thepackage such that the package tears more easily on the edge when a userapplies a tearing force to open the package. Under this approach and theabove cutting approach, however, the package will merely tear along weakareas naturally present in the package material such that the tear maynot propagate straight across the package. Moreover, the tear typicallystops at the seal running the length of the package without undueadditional force applied by the user.

Another known method for assisting the opening of a package includesweakening the package material along a given line such that a tear willlikely propagate along that line when opening the package. One suchmethod includes ablating the package material with a laser. The laserdamages the package material along a line across the material withoutcutting entirely through the package material. Thus, when a user tearsat the package, the package is more likely to tear along thelaser-damaged portion. When a package is scored by a laser all the wayacross the package, however, the package is too often so weakened thatit cannot stay intact during its manufacturing process or during normalhandling by a user before the package is intended to be opened.

It is known to laser score a pattern into a package material to provideadditional strength for a load carrying package, such as a bag of soilor similar relatively heavy material. Previous disclosures teach a ratioof the length of laser scored to non-scored material along a tear linefor such an application to be about one to two; in other words, thelaser will score a line of about one half the length of intermediatenon-scored material between each scored portion. Having the increasedamount of non-scored portions relative to the scored portions providesincreased material strength for such load carrying bags, but for smallerfoodstuff packaging, such a ratio of laser scoring typically will notsatisfactorily carry a tear line cleanly and consistently straightacross a package or ensure that laser scoring will be present on thepackage and seal edges to provide an increased ease of starting a tearand propagating a tear across a package seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of themethod and apparatus for laser scored packaging described in thefollowing detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunctionwith the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a plan view of a web material for use in creating apackage as configured in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 2 comprises a bottom plan view of package as configured inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a top plan view of a portion of a package as configuredin accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 comprises a top plan view of the portion of a package of FIG. 3while a tearing force is applied by a user to an edge of the package;

FIG. 5 comprises a side view of a package as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention with an end completely removedsuch that the contents can be fully emptied;

FIG. 6 comprises a perspective view of a three layer web material asconfigured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 comprises an elevation view of a three layer web material along across-section along an ablation pattern as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 comprises a perspective view of a two layer web material asconfigured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 comprises an elevation view of a two layer web material along across-section along an ablation pattern as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 comprises a perspective view of a web material to be formed intoa package having a fin-type seal as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 11 comprises a perspective view of a package having a fin-type sealas configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12 comprises a perspective view of a web material to be formed intoa package having an overlap seal as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 13 comprises a perspective view of a package having an overlap sealas configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 14 comprises a perspective view of a package having two webmaterials as configured in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 15 comprises a cross-sectional view along line Z-Z of the packageof FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 comprises a perspective view of elements of avertical-form-fill-and-seal device.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioningof some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative toother elements to help to improve understanding of various embodimentsof the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements thatare useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are oftennot depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of thesevarious embodiments of the present invention. It will further beappreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. It will also be understood that the terms andexpressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as isaccorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in thetechnical field as set forth above except where different specificmeanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a packageformed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process includes a web materialwith edge portions sealed to create a vertical sleeve. The web materialalso includes a first sealed end and a second sealed end at either endof the vertical sleeve to create a sealed package. The package includesa laser scribed ablation pattern extending across the web material withablated portions having an about one millimeter to about threemillimeters length separated by non-ablated portions of about 0.25millimeter to about 0.75 millimeter length. The package typically has avertical length of about 75 millimeters to about 200 millimeters.

So configured, the package provides a sealed container that a user mayopen along the package's ablation pattern. The package may containfoodstuffs such as drink powders, dessert powders, snack nuts,condiments, and toppings that are poured into another container ordirectly into a consumer's mouth. The laser ablation pattern, having adash score length of about one millimeter to about three millimeters anda space between scores of about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75millimeters, provides the web material with increased tensile strengthso as to avoid breaking during the conventionalvertical-form-fill-and-seal process, but also provides a high likelihoodthat an outer edge of the package includes an ablated portion to providea user an easy-to-start tear area to open the package. Similarly, thispattern provides a high likelihood that an edge of the vertical seal hasan ablated portion such that the tearing of the package more easilypropagates across the seal. Also, the short spaces between the ablatedportions increase the likelihood that the tear will propagate in a linealong the ablation pattern, all the way across the package, so that theend of the package is relatively easily and completely removed to allowunrestricted access to the package's contents.

In other words, a longer dash or continuous line for the ablationpattern will excessively weaken the web material, and a shorter dashwill make the web material more difficult to open. A longer spacebetween ablated portions will likely allow the tear to move away fromthe score line, and a shorter space between ablated portions will reducethe tensile strength to mimic a solid score. As such, a dash pattern inaccordance with the teachings of this disclosure provides a preferredcombination of features for such packages.

These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thoroughreview and study of the following detailed description. Referring now tothe drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example packagethat is compatible with many of these teachings will now be presented. Apackage 10 formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process includes aweb material 12 with a first edge portion 14 and a second edge portion16 opposite the first edge portion 14 that are sealed together in a seal18. The package 10 includes a first sealed end 20 at a first end 22 ofthe seal 16 and a second sealed end 24 at a second end of the seal 16.Any of the above described seals may be made by conventional methods,including, for example, the application of heat and pressure to create alaminate seal. With these seals, the contents of the package 10 areprotected from outside elements such as moisture and/or oxygen that mayaffect the quality of the contents.

The first sealed end 20 and the second sealed end 24 define a firstpackage side edge 28 and a second package side edge 30 wherein the firstpackage side edge 28 and the second package side edge 30 are folded webmaterial created by and between the edges of the sealed ends 20 and 24.The folded web material may be creased along fold lines 15 and 17 tobetter define the side edges for the user or may be rounded portions ofthe web material transitioning from the front of the package 10 to theback.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the package 10 alsoincludes an ablation pattern 32 extending across the web material 12between the first edge portion 14 and the second edge portion 16. Theablation pattern 32 includes a series of ablated portions 34 about oneto about three millimeters in length (designated, for example, by line35 in FIG. 6) separated by non-ablated portions 36 about 0.25 to about0.75 millimeters in length (designated, for example, by line 37 in FIG.6) such that the ablation pattern defines a tear line 39 across thepackage 10.

With such an ablation pattern, the package 10 substantially tears alongthe along tear line 39 and across the seal 18 without varying from thetear line 39 when a separating force is applied by a user at the firstpackage side edge 28 or the second package side edge 30 as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. The range of ablation portion lengths and non-ablatedportion lengths taught herein also increases the likelihood that thefirst package side edge 28, the second package side edge 30, and an edge29 of the seal 18 have ablated portions 34, thereby improving the easeat which the package 10 begins tearing and continues tearing through theseal 18 without a substantial increase in tearing force applied by theuser. So configured, the user may more easily remove the entire packageend to release the package contents 11 as illustrated in FIG. 5.Moreover, the web material 12 maintains sufficient tensile strength viathe non-ablated portions 36 to withstand the vertical-form-fill-and-sealprocess substantially without breaking.

With reference to FIGS. 6 through 9, the web material 12 and ablationpatterns 32 are further discussed. The web material 12 may include oneor more layers of material, although typically the web material 12includes at least two layers. A multi-layer web material 12 includes atleast an outer layer 40 comprising at least one of a group including PET(polyethylene terephthalate) and OPP (oriented polypropylene film). Theouter layer 40 will typically include branding and product information.A second layer 42 includes at least one of a group comprising PET, OPP,and foil, typically including sealant for a two layer structure. Anoptional third layer 44 may operate as a sealant layer typicallycomprising primarily PE (polyethylene) or other material suitable forcontacting the package's contents 11 and providing adequate sealcharacteristics as generally known in the art with the second layeracting as a barrier. Any one or more of the layers may also be metalizedto increase the protection of the package's contents 11.

Typically, the ablated portions 34 are scribed with carbon dioxidelasers during the manufacturing of the web material 12 and prior to thevertical-form-fill-and-seal manufacturing process, although the ablatedportions 34 may be scribed during the vertical-form-fill-and-sealprocess. Other types of lasers may be used to create the ablatedportions 34.

In a typical approach for the laser scribing, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9,the ablated portions 34 have a depth less than a thickness of an outerlayer 40 of the package 10. This depth maintains the integrity of thepackage seal and strength of the web material 12. Although the ablationpattern 32 is generally shown herein as a uniform pattern, the ablationpattern 32 may have a non-uniform pattern 50 within the length rangesfor the ablated and non-ablated portions as taught herein.

By another approach, a second ablation pattern 48 may be disposed on aweb material side 46 opposite and substantially in line with the firstablation pattern 32. Additionally, various approaches to the laserscoring placement are possible, including, for example, a singleablation pattern on an outer portion of the package 10, a singleablation pattern on an inner portion of the package 10, single ablationpatterns substantially in line with each other on the outside and insideportions of the package 10, double ablation patterns on the insideand/or outside portions of the package, and so forth.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 13, the seal 18 of the first edgeportion 14 to the second edge portion 16 of the web material 12 mayinclude any type of seal known in the art but will typically comprise afin-type seal 52 or an overlap seal 62. Such seals are known in the art,but will be described briefly for clarity. With reference to FIGS. 10and 11, a fin-type seal 52 is formed by folding the web material 12 suchthat the inner portions 46 of the first edge portion 14 and second edgeportion 16 touch. These edge portions are sealed together and foldedagainst the package 10, thereby creating a “fin.” When the ablationpattern 32 extends across the whole web material 12, the ablationpattern 32 creates a line of weakness across the fin-type seal 52thereby rending the seal more easily torn. When the ablation pattern 32is configured according to the teachings of this disclosure, an ablatedportion 34 is more likely positioned on an edge 29 of the fin-type seal52 to help the propagation of the tear to continue across the seal 52.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, an overlap seal 62 is formed byfolding the web material 12 such that one of either the first edgeportion 14 and second edge portion 16 overlaps the other. FIG. 12, forexample, shows the first edge portion 14 overlapping with the secondedge portion 16. These edge portions are then sealed together,eliminating a need for a folded portion like the fin-type seal 52. Whenthe ablation pattern 32 extends across the whole web material 12, theablation pattern 32 creates a line of weakness across the overlap seal62 thereby rending the seal more easily torn. When the ablation pattern32 is configured according to the teachings of this disclosure, anablated portion 34 is more likely positioned on an edge 29 of thefin-type seal 62 to help the propagation of the tear to continue acrossthe seal 62.

By a different approach, and with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, apackage 100 may include two web materials 102 and 104 sealed together todefine an interior space 105. By one method, the first web material 102is sealed to the second web material 104 at a first side edge 114 alonga first side edge seal 128 and at a second side edge 116 along a secondside edge seal 130. The package 100 also includes a first sealed end 120and a second sealed end 124 sealing the package 100 between the firstside edge seal 128 and the second side edge seal 130. An ablationpattern 32 as described above extends across at least the first webmaterial 102 between the first side edge 114 and the second side edge116 such that the ablation pattern 32 defines a tear line 39 across thepackage 100. So configured, the first side edge seal 114 and the secondside edge seal 116 have a high likelihood of having ablated portions 34,the package 100 substantially tears along the along tear line 39 andacross the first side edge seal 128 and the second side edge seal 130when a separating force is applied by a user at the first side edge 114or the second side edge 116. The web materials 102 and 104 also maintainsufficient tensile strength to withstand the vertical-form-fill-and-sealprocess substantially without breaking.

It is possible to have a second ablation pattern 132 extending acrossthe second web material 104 between the first side edge 114 and thesecond side edge 116 substantially in line with the ablation pattern 32on the first web material 102. Other configurations of ablation patternsare possible and considered within the scope of this disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 16, a method for manufacturing a package 10according to the teachings of this disclosure will be described. Themethod includes laser scoring an ablation pattern 32 across a webmaterial 12 between a first edge portion 14 and a second edge portion 16of the web material 12 and (as generally indicated by reference number210) feeding the web material 12 into avertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. As depicted in FIG. 16,the ablation pattern 32 was laser scored during the manufacture of theweb material 12 and prior to its feeding into thevertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. By another approach,lasers may be incorporated into the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-processdevice 200 such that the ablation pattern 32 may be added after feedingthe web material 12 into the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device200. By yet another approach, the laser scoring may ablate the webmaterial 12 on two sides of the web material 12 and substantially inline with the ablation patterns on either side of the material. The webmaterial 12 is then sealed along a vertical direction to form at leastone seal 18, and advanced within the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-processdevice 200. The web material 12 is sealed and cut horizontally acrossthe at least one seal 18 at a first end 22 of the package 10. The webmaterial 12 is then cut at a second end 26 of the package 10 with theablation pattern 32 between the first end 22 and the second end 26.Typically, the second cut severs the web material 12 such that thelength from the first end 22 to the second end 26 is about 75millimeters to about 200 millimeters.

Although the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200 depicted inFIG. 16 is designed to create a fin-type seal, the above describedmethod can be applied to any of the other package seals describedherein, including, for example, an overlap seal package and a dual webmaterial package. For instance, the step of sealing the web materialalong the vertical direction to form a seal may include sealing the webmaterial 12 to a second web material. In this example, two verticalseals at the vertical edges of the web materials may be created at thisstep. Similarly, the second web material may be laser scored with asecond ablation pattern. Other variations of the laser scoring patternand sealing process will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

So configured, the package created by such a method and as describedherein provides relative ease of starting to open the package whencompared to previous methods provided to consumers to help openrelatively small web-based packaging. Moreover, the tear more reliablypropagates along the tear line and more easily propagates past verticalseals in the packaging. For example, a test was conducted to compare thetear forces needed to be applied over time while propagating a tearthrough a typical fin-type seal package. The test was conducted asfollows. A package with a laser score pattern was fit with tapedextensions to mimic the rolling wrist action of a user. The portion ofthe package below the score line was fixed securely in the test device,while the extension tape affixed to the portion above the score line wassecured in the tear tester jaws. The testing device was a Vinatoru sealstrength tester. The tester jaws pulled the tape from the opposite sideof the package and progressed across the top of the package and upwardat a 30 degree angle. The tester jaws were fitted with a forcetransducer and the instantaneous force was recorded at regularintervals.

FIG. 17 illustrates the results of the test. The laser scribed, dashedablation pattern as described herein (labeled “Dash”) allows for thepackage to open with approximately the same force, or ease of opening,as having a continuous laser score line (labeled “Continuous”) in theweb material. Both of the laser scored packages necessitatedsubstantially less opening force than the notched approach (labeled“Notch Edge/Fin”) and the micro-abrasion approach (labeled “Fancy Cut”for the FANCY CUT brand of packaging).

As demonstrated in the table of FIG. 18, however, the dashed ablationpattern has a consistently improved tensile strength over packageshaving a continuous score line. The data presented in FIG. 18 wascollected by measuring the tensile strength of packages using an Instrontesting device. The data demonstrates that the ablation pattern hassufficiently improved tensile strength over a continuous score line soas to be less likely to break in a vertical-form-fill-and-seal processwhile having approximately the same opening force, as shown in FIG. 17.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofmodifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect tothe above described embodiments without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. For example, many of the example embodimentsdiscussed herein refer to generally rectangular shaped packages withspecified, distinct edges. Other configurations such as oval or roundpackages are possible. Also, any variation of multiple scoring lines toprovide multiple tear lines in a package can be provided. Suchmodifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as beingwithin the ambit of the inventive concept.

1. A package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal processcomprising: a web material with a first edge portion and a second edgeportion opposite the first edge portion sealed together in a seal with afirst sealed end at a first end of the seal and a second sealed end at asecond end of the seal; wherein the first sealed end and the secondsealed end define a first package side edge and a second package sideedge wherein the first package side edge and the second package sideedge comprise folded web material; an ablation pattern extending acrossthe web material between the first edge portion and the second edgeportion wherein the ablation pattern comprises a series of ablatedportions about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separatedby non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75 millimetersin length such that the ablation pattern defines a tear line across thepackage such that the package substantially tears along the along tearline and across the seal when a separating force is applied by a user atthe first package side edge or the second package side edge and suchthat the web material maintains sufficient tensile strength to withstandthe vertical-form-fill-and-seal process substantially without breaking.2. The package of claim 1 wherein the package has a length from thefirst sealed end to the second sealed end of about 75 millimeters toabout 200 millimeters.
 3. The package of claim 1 wherein the webmaterial comprises at least two layers.
 4. The package of claim 1wherein the web material comprises: an outer layer comprising at leastone of a group comprising PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and OPP(oriented polypropylene film); and at least a second layer comprising atleast one of a group comprising PET, OPP, and foil.
 5. The package ofclaim 1 wherein the ablated portions have a depth less than a thicknessof an outer layer of the package.
 6. The package of claim 1 wherein theablation pattern is non-uniform.
 7. The package of claim 1 wherein thefirst package side edge, the second package side edge, and an edge ofthe seal have ablated portions.
 8. The package of claim 1 furthercomprising a second ablation pattern disposed on a web material sideopposite and substantially in line with the ablation pattern.
 9. Thepackage of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises at least one of a groupcomprising a fin-type seal and an overlap seal.
 10. A method ofmanufacturing a package comprising: laser scoring an ablation patternacross a web material between a first edge portion and a second edgeportion of the web material wherein the ablation pattern comprises aseries of ablated portions about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters inlength separated by non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about0.75 millimeters in length; feeding the web material into avertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device; sealing the web materialalong a vertical direction to form at least one seal; advancing the webmaterial within the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device; sealingand cutting the web material horizontally across the at least one sealat a first end of the package; cutting the web material at a second endof the package with the ablation pattern between the first end and thesecond end.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of laser scoringan ablation pattern extending across a web material between a first edgeportion and a second edge portion of the web material wherein theablation pattern comprises a series of ablated portions about 1millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separated by non-ablatedportions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75 millimeters in lengthfurther comprises ablating the web material to a depth less than athickness of an outer layer of the package.
 12. The method of claim 10wherein the step of laser scoring an ablation pattern extending across aweb material between a first edge portion and a second edge portion ofthe web material wherein the ablation pattern comprises a series ofablated portions about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters in lengthseparated by non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75millimeters in length further comprises ablating the web material on twosides of the web material.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the stepof laser scoring an ablation pattern extending across a web materialbetween a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the webmaterial is performed after the step of feeding the web material into avertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device.
 14. The method of claim 10wherein the step of cutting the web material at a second position withthe ablation pattern between the first position and the second positionfurther comprises cutting the web material with a length from the firstend to the second end of about 75 millimeters to about 200 millimeters.15. The method of claim 10 wherein the ablation pattern is non-uniform.16. The method of claim 10 further comprising laser scoring a secondablation pattern disposed on a web material side opposite andsubstantially in line with the ablation pattern.
 17. The method of claim10 wherein the step of sealing the web material along a verticaldirection to form at least one seal comprises sealing the web materialto a second web material.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprisinglaser scoring a second ablation pattern extending across the second webmaterial wherein the ablation pattern comprises a series of ablatedportions about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separatedby non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75 millimetersin length.
 19. A package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-sealprocess comprising: a first web material sealed to a second web materialat a first side edge along a first side edge seal and at a second sideedge along a second side edge seal; a first sealed end sealing thepackage between the first side edge seal and the second side edge seal;a second sealed end sealing the package between the first side edge sealand the second side edge seal; an ablation pattern extending across atleast the first web material between the first side edge and the secondside edge wherein the ablation pattern comprises a series of ablatedportions about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separatedby non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75 millimetersin length such that the ablation pattern defines a tear line across thepackage such that the package substantially tears along the along tearline and across the first side edge seal and the second side edge sealwhen a separating force is applied by a user at the first side edge orthe second side edge and such that the web material maintains sufficienttensile strength to withstand the vertical-form-fill-and-seal processsubstantially without breaking.
 20. The package of claim 19 furthercomprising a second ablation pattern extending across the second webmaterial between the first side edge and the second side edgesubstantially in line with the ablation pattern on the first webmaterial.
 21. The package of claim 19 wherein the package has a lengthfrom the first sealed end to the second sealed end of about 75millimeters to about 200 millimeters.
 22. The package of claim 19wherein the first web material and the second web material comprises: anouter layer comprising at least one of a group comprising PET(polyethylene terephthalate) and OPP (oriented polypropylene film); andat least a second layer comprising at least one of a group comprisingPET, OPP, and foil.
 23. The package of claim 19 wherein the ablatedportions have a depth less than a thickness of an outer layer of thepackage.
 24. The package of claim 19 wherein the ablation pattern isnon-uniform.
 25. The package of claim 19 wherein the first side edge andthe second side edge have ablated portions.